Highlights from borgataSeeing Ralph at the slots just as we arrived at the casinoMeeting Neil fans Bruce Asam and Howell Posner, seeing Bill Tired Eyes,Frank S, Bugs and Rich (too briefly) and Tim and Dee!Russell from Everest tossing me the tambourine during a song and me tossing it back deftly.After the song he said, "thanks for catching the tambourine... You made me look good. Is that a Rustie t-shirt? I'll trade ya!"Being on the rail with Cristina little wingRITFW and LAHHanging out with Everest at the bar and up in my Rustie room on the top floor,Chatting with Billy Talbot at the end of the night

1. Love And Only Love2. Powderfinger3. Born In Ontario4. Walk Like A Giant5. The Needle And The Damage Done6. Twisted Road7. Singer Without A Song8. Ramada Inn9. Cinnamon Girl10. Rockin' In The Free World11. Mr. Soul12. Hey Hey, My My (Into The Black)---13. Like a Hurricane

I had seats at MSG show last week. I was drunk and did not realize it until I missed my train stop in Princeton Junction and had to pay $50 for a taxi out of Trenton.

General admission, sobriety, and Atlantic City all much better.

I got the impression that Neil was dialing it up two notches from the very beginning. The fact that this was both a benefit and the last show for many months, every jam and solo seemed intensified. I wished I timed Love and Only Love, but it wouldn't surprise me if it hit the 20 minute mark. I saw Poncho give Neil a glance in the opener that said " are you for real"

It was a nice thing for Neil and the horse to do. I am sure that it is a difficult decision to go home two days later after a long tour. Neil was extremely talkative. He was proud that they raised over $250k. He had a great banter with a fan with a Buffalo Springfield sign.

The end was very emotional. I thought I noticed wet eyes for the whole band, especially Pancho. It could be the last visit from the Horse to the East Coast.

Last night's Sandy benefit staging was very different from the Horse tour for which I had seen my only show six days earlier, no giant speaker cabinets,light show, ewoks, singer with guitar case, etc. yet the Smell of the Horse was the same (who was that annoying guy that kept yelling that around us? -oops it was me)-perhaps even more intense with the extended jams to RITFW and LAH. The thunderous bass and feedback rumble of LAH seemed to express solidarity between the band and the Shore residents. The passion of Ramada Inn especially the guitar solo before the last verse almost lifted me out of my Pumas.The fan standing next to me and my friend Mike who went into high-five land when they played Mr. Soul, made me realize how well-crafted this tour setlist is for old fans, new fans and those of us welcoming new songs whenever we can get them. On personal notes that will mark this trip: 1) the bartender at House of Blues who said to me when I sidled up, "you're going to see Neil tonight, right?" When I asked how he knew, he said, "you have the look" Aging hippie with short hair , I guess.2) hearing Neil make a big fuss over the Buffalo Springfield sign (looked just like the boxset) during the show. Let's not forget Richie for at least one tour Neil! 3) my Journey Through the Past in the afternoon to Ventnor NJ where we spent our summers when I was a kid was very poignant.I was glad the town was relatively fortunate in storm damage.4) Being able to grab one of the commemorative benefit shirts before staking out an excellent good spot on the floor.(Cheers to Jeff from Ridley Park.) I'm really glad to have been able to see two very complementary shows of Neil and the Horse in less than a week, especially attending this fundraising benefit for a great cause (Neil said a million dollars were raised for the Red Cross). A great end to a great US tour!

Thx Thrasher!Reading the AC and Philly reports online, I realized that the accurate amount raised was $250,000, a bit lower than the $3 mill I thought I heard him say on stage and the one million I heard later- it's all one fundraiser for a great need! Also, reading made me realize that I had seen Neil before in AC- but I forgot because it was 38 yrs ago @ AC Race Course with CSNY and Santana! It was a shorter trip home to Ventnor as a teenager. Finally, I hope Mike S.and I didn't foster a setlist change after CG by flipping some premature F'ing Up birds to puzzled looks from the Horse, well anyway, we got a rare RITFW as a result!

He said over $250,000 on stage. finally recovering from the trip. left florida at 3- landed in ac at 530- went right to hotel- got tickets- ate a sandwich- waited in line- saw over 2 hours of insanity- woke up at 430 and flew back to fl. Finally starting to feel normal. reliving the show on rust radio now. Hope everyone else enjoyed it. btw Gary on the howard stern show was talking this week about trying to get neil on. said he almost had it worked out but the show taped too early in the morning. that would be the best interview. Fan of howard or not the guy can give great interviews. he has said neil is in his top 3 for his dream interviews. thanks again neil for a great tour. i was lucky to see a few dates and i'll never forget it!